Results 18,601-18,620 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: I was speaking about a specific homes for the elderly scheme.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: Voluntary housing associations provide housing for a variety of people and it is clear that where they specifically provide houses for disabled people or those with intellectual disabilities, these will be exempt. It is also clear that if they provide houses in the same way as a local authority and draw from the same pool of tenants, it is totally analogous to housing provided by local...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: The family home will be protected. The intention is that the amount of local property tax that will apply will be quite small in relation to the value of the house. In the event of somebody losing his or her job and the family income reducing, the deferral system will kick in and that person can apply for a deferral within the guidelines for deferral. I do not see any circumstances in...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: I will consider the matter in the context of the finance Bill.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: I will consider the matter in the context of the finance Bill.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: The Senator can see the files stacked in front of me. My staff who are very good and competent have gone through all of the amendments and supplied a speaking note on each one. We will use all of the material that they have prepared, even if we do not arrive at the amendment today. We will go through it before we decide on the limited number of amendments that will be introduced in the...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: I am sorry, but I have explained why I must deal with the Bill before the Christmas recess.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: I will be advised principally by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on the basis of how the exemptions will be done. The pyrite issue is primarily an issue for that Department, which has responsibility for housing. Any Senator should e-mail any suggestions to my private secretary and we will take them into account. We have not yet resolved how to do it...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: Yes, of course. Higgins, Lorraine.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: Some people in this country are very badly off, and some families are very badly off. We all know that from our neighbours, friends and the communities we live in but the deferral sections of the Bill are aimed at dealing with that problem. For single people on an income below ¤15,000 and for a couple with an income below ¤25,000, there will be a deferral. Those who are badly off because...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: No, if one considers the cost of that, the full package in many instances is close to ¤1,000. The basic package is a few hundred euro and the television licence for the 85% who pay it-----

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: The Senator is an exception.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: The Senator should pay for Sky Arts; it has two great channels.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: The point I am making is that a very strong case can be made about how badly off the country is but that is not true. There are people who are very badly off and there are more people badly off now than ever before but there is a whole generality of people who are paying their way. I am only using what people pay for a television product in their homes as an example and this measure is an...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: The Bill is very close to the Senator's position on disposable income, leaving aside mortgage payments. If one takes a couple who have an income of ¤25,000 before they come to having earned the that amount, they can deduct up to ¤20,000 of interest payments from their income. The concept the Senator is taking about is already provided for in the Bill. On the question of rushing to bring...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: I thank the Senators. I have an extensive speaking note which I will read but Senator Ó Domhnaill made a point about the grants from local authorities with which we would all be familiar where some elderly person can no longer take the stairs because of a particular ailment and a bedroom with a shower and toilet is built downstairs aided by grants. The likelihood is that will not drive...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: There were a couple of questions. The value of the charge will not be based on stamp duty paid. It is incorrect to contend that it will. The charge will be determined in the manner I explained. When the Government made its decision in July, additional resources were allocated to the Revenue Commissioners for the employment of additional staff in the central unit to administer the charge....

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: The Revenue will try to establish what is a reasonable average price in respect of the houses in a particular area. It seems that it will be relatively simple for those who live in housing estates. With once-off houses, it is a little more difficult. In the context of houses in rural areas which are encumbered by farm buildings, slurry tanks or whatever, the market value would be lower...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: Senator Barrett seeks to amend the definition of chargeable value of residential property to the price the unencumbered fee simple of the property might reasonably fetch on a sale in a distortion-free open market were the property to be sold on a particular date. The Thornhill group recommended that market value of residential properties should be the basis for the assessment for the tax....

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Michael Noonan: Senator van Turnhout seeks an exemption for residential properties owned by discretionary trusts and charities. The Thornhill group expressed concern that the exemption provided for in the household charge legislation for discretionary trusts was a potential vehicle for tax avoidance. It considered that it would be relatively easy for a property owner to place the ownership of properties...